At the 2nd Tuesday Gathering, July 14, 2026, members participated in their first Kitchen Table Talk.

Kitchen Table Talks (KTT) are small group conversations held by Democrats Abroad members to talk about issues that matter to Americans abroad. The feedback from these discussions will help shape the 2028 Democrats Abroad Platform.

The subject of the first KTT was Democracy. The questions asked were: do you believe the Democratic Party is doing enough to preserve our democracy? Are you satisfied with the current state of our elections? Do you have ideas about how our democracy can be strengthened?

For those who missed it, a summary of the KTT can be found below.

There will be other KTT’s in the future and we hope you will be able to participate for this most animated and stimulating event. 

 

Kitchen Table Talk #1 — Summary

Democrats Abroad Luxembourg
Date: 14 July 2026
Participants: 8
Topic: Democracy
Discussion Question: With regard to strengthening and defending our democracy, what would you choose to do if we were able to implement our own agenda, fully, with no pushback and no need to compromise?

Participant Priorities

Each participant identified one top priority for safeguarding American democracy:

1. Expand the Supreme Court
2. Strengthen voting rights
3. Limit campaign donations
4. Get money out of politics
5. Eliminate the Electoral College and gerrymandering
6. Undo voter suppression
7. Get money out of politics
8. Prosecute criminal behavior in politics (e.g., Trump administration)

A clear convergence emerged across these priorities, centering on three interconnected themes: voting rights, money in politics, and institutional reform.

Key Themes and Discussion

1. Voting Rights as the Foundation of Democracy

This was, by far, the strongest priority of our group. The group observed that four of the eight top priorities stated by the individuals present — strengthening voting rights, undoing voter suppression, eliminating the Electoral College and gerrymandering, and expanding democratic access — all fundamentally point to the same principle: democracy depends on the integrity and accessibility of the vote.

The group affirmed that one person, one vote is critical and that efforts to undermine election integrity under the guise of "election integrity" initiatives should be rejected, as American elections are already secure.

Specific proposals discussed include:

• Automatic voter registration for all U.S. citizens
• Electronic voting and removal of all barriers to voting
• Federal control of federal elections to make the above measures mandatory nationwide
• State control of state elections with federal incentives to adopt the same standards
• Recognizing that voting rights are constitutionally grounded — as demonstrated by UOCAVA, which grants Americans abroad certain federally mandated voting rights — and that these rights can be expanded or rolled back over time

Concerns were raised about the current erosion of voting rights, and the group stressed the importance of rolling back that erosion.

2. Money in Politics

The group identified money in politics as a central threat to democracy, noting that money and elections are deeply intertwined with corruption. Several concerns were raised:

• Money is often used to undermine the right to vote and also influence how people vote
• Anonymous political spending obscures who is trying to shape election outcomes
• Buying influence through lobbying distorts how representatives act
• Negative advertising funded by undisclosed sources manipulates voter behavior

The group rejected the idea that money equals free speech, while acknowledging the tension between restricting political spending and protecting First Amendment rights. Transparency was seen as a necessary first step, though the group agreed that transparency alone would not go far enough. The proposed legislative goal is to ban spending in politics that is designed to influence votes, while continuing to grapple with where to draw the line on free speech protections.

3. Media, Trust, and Information

We discussed the role of media in shaping elections and public trust:

• Both social and traditional media have eroded trust in election integrity
• Media monopolies — exemplified by concentrated ownership such as the Murdoch family and the Uline family — wield outsized influence over elections and editorial policy
• Wealth inequality contributes to media consolidation, further concentrating power
• The line between news and propaganda has become blurred

Proposals considered:

• Full disclosure of funding sources for political advertising and claims
• Labeling entertainment content as distinct from news to improve clarity
• Exploring whether publicly owned media could serve as a counterbalance — though the group felt government-owned media would go too far
• Licensure of journalists was discussed and rejected, as it could restrict marginalized voices (e.g., incarcerated journalists)

The group affirmed that free speech is essential and expressed concern about the fragility and availability of independent and alternative media sources, particularly given the financial power behind major media outlets.

4. Supreme Court Reform

The Supreme Court as currently constituted and operated is credibly seen as politicized and corrupt. It also actively opposes and undermines both voting rights and the fight against money in American politics. Supreme Court expansion was broadly supported by the group, with one vocal opponent expressing concern. The dissenting participant argued that expansion risks politicizing the Court and could be perceived as a short-term partisan maneuver rather than a genuine structural reform.

To address the legitimacy concerns raised by the opponent, the group discussed ideas for a compromise approach:

• Staggered terms with term limits for justices
• A delayed, phased expansion — for example, adding one new justice initially, then additional justices over subsequent years — to avoid conferring immediate political advantage on the party in power

While the dissent was noted, the group's overall sentiment favored Supreme Court reform, including expansion, with safeguards to mitigate concerns about politicization.

5. Electoral College and Gerrymandering

Although this topic received limited discussion, the group expressed unanimous support for eliminating the Electoral College and ending gerrymandering. This reflects a shared priority aligned with the broader consensus that voting rights and fair representation are foundational to democracy, and that institutional mechanisms which distort the will of voters should be reformed.